Door handle construction



Oct. 27, 1936. GQJ. HAAN, JR

DOOR HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. '15, 1935 R o w 5 W m fm M T, R M M\L 6% Y W TiEi-E Patented Oct. 27, 1936 l 'l'ET OE'FIQE DOOR HANDLECONSTRUCTION Gilbert J. Haan, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich, as-

signor to Keeler Brass Company, Grand Rapids,

Mich.

Application August 15, 1935, Serial No. 36,246

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in door handle constructions.

The modern trend in streamlining of automobiles requires that thehardware such as door handles thereon be likewise gracefully streamlinedto bear out that motive.

The objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a door handle so constructed and arranged that it ischaracterized by a maximum of strength and rigidity while at the sametime conforming to the above noted requirement.

Second, to provide a modern door handle having a decreased number ofparts yet being characterized by considerable strength due to theshaping of the spindle thereof.

Third, to provide an improved construction comprising a support plateprovided with means which allow for the locating of the support plate onthe cross bar and result in a structure in which risk of displacement isreduced to a minimum.

Fourth, to provide a door handle which is simple and economical in itsparts and in the assembly thereof.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side View of the door handle embodying my invention, partsbeing broken away and in section, the section being taken along the lineIl of Figs. 2, 4, and 5.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my handle.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the top cap, support plate,ferrule and escutcheon removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1, partsbeing broken away.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Due to the streamlining of automobiles nowadays, the production of adoor handle which while conforming to the streamlined effect retains allof the strength and rigidity of bulkier handles is a desideratum.

In the interest of strength, in my improved door handle I have provideda spindle or chill which is bent at its end and attached to the crossbar, the bending of the spindle adding considerably to the strength ofthe handle and permitting the use of a much lighter cross bar than wouldotherwise be possible. I have likewise provided a recessed porton in thecross bar of my invention whch locates and receives the spindle andaccordingly makes it possible to produce a handle 5 having a flatterexposed portion on the top cap if such is desired. The recessing of thecross bar also aids in the effective anchorage of the cross bar to thespindle.

I provide the support plate or shell abutting the 10 cross bar with aplurality of notches along its length, to the end that the support platemay be permanently located with respect to the cross bar so as not toslide over the edge of the bar, which feature results in a much moresatisfactory arrangement not only in the completed product but also withrespect to the assembling process,

In the drawing, reference numeral l indicates the spindle of the doorhandle, the outer end of the spindle being bent through 90 as shown at2.- A cross bar 3 is provided having a recessed portion 4 therein, thebent portion of the spindle being located in the recess and spot weldedto the cross bar as indicated at 5. The cross bar is apertured at l5 toreceive the spindle I.

The support plate or shell 6 is placed on cross bar 3 with the edges ofthe plate abutting the surface of the cross bar, and. support plate 6 isbent in or notched inwardly at a plurality of oppositely disposed pointsadjacent its edges, as indicated at "i, the notched portions as will beapparent resting inwardly of the periphery of the cross bar. Top cap orface plate 8 encloses the cross bar and support plate at the frontthereof, while back plate 9 which is apertured at it fits against theunder side of the cross bar. Flanges [0 of finishing plate or cap 8 arespun around to clamp the back plate, cross bar and support platetogether, while the ferrule II and escutcheon plate l2 bear against theback plate from the rear.

I am unaware that it has been proposed to bend the free end of thespindle and secure it to the cross bar and I have produced a structurewhich is greatly strengthened by this feature. In recessing the crossbar at l, a handle which is narrower from front to back is produced, yetthe-handle retains all of its strength provided by the bent feature ofthe spindle; However, the provision of a recessed portion is quiteoptional. Due to the bending of the spindle through 90 and attaching thesame to the cross bar, it will be apparent that a much lighter cross barmay be used inasmuch as the stresses are largely borne by the bentportion of the spindle.

In providing notched portions 1 lengthwise of the support plate 6, Ihave effected a considerable saving from a manufacturing point of viewand have also provided for the production of more uniform and betterhandles. Previously to the provision of this feature, when the top capswere assembled, the support plates were apt to be crushed slightly orslip out of position over an edge of the cross bar, thus distorting thetop caps and causing them to slide around on either side of the crossbar, with the result that the handle was slightly widened. Also, therewas a tendency to cause the top cap to spring slightly loose at thefolded over portion l0 after it was assembled. This often resulted insharp edges upon which it was possible to cut oneself, and to eliminatethis hazard it was frequently necessary to put extra assembly operationson the handle to get the edges down in place. It will be obvious that by'notching the support plate all this difficulty is eliminated since itcannot slide over the cross bar.

The notches I provided in the edges of the support plate are easilyformed by a simple embossing or bending operation. It is desirable thatthe cross bar be as wide as possible to obtain adequate strength for agiven size of handle, and due to the relation of my support plate withthe cross bar it will be seen that a wider cross bar may be utilized forthe production of a narrow streamlined handle.

I have described two features which constitute the means by which Iproduce a strengthened rigid handle, yet one which is characterized byits narrowness, and I have shown both of these features embodied in asingle construction. However, it will be apparent that the featurecomprising the bent handle may be used with other types of supportplates and that my improved supporting plate and parts associatedtherewith may be used with other conventional spindle and cross barconstructions, such as, for instance, a construction in which thespindle is riveted at its extreme end to the cross bar or otherwisesecured thereto.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myimprovements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A door handle comprising a spindle having a bent end portion, a crossbar having an aperture to receive said spindle and recessed to locatesaid end portion thereon, said bar and end portion being spot Weldedtogether, a support plate abutting said cross bar at its edges, saidplate being notched inwardly of said edges, and a top cap and back plateenclosing said cross bar and support plate, said notches preventingdisplacement of said top cap and support plate relative to said backplate.

2. A door handle comprising a spindle having a bent end portion, a crossbar having an aperture to receive said spindle and recessed to locatesaid end portion thereon, said bar and end portion being rigidly securedtogether, a support plate abutting said cross bar at its edges, saidplate being notched inwardly of said edges, and a top cap and back plateenclosing said cross bar and support plate, said notches preventingdisplacement of said top cap and support plate relative to said backplate.

3. A door handle comprising a spindle having a bent end portion, a crossbar, said bar and end portion being rigidly secured together, a supportplate abutting said cross bar at its edges, said plate being notchedinwardly of said edges, and a top cap and back plate enclosing saidcross bar and support plate, said notches preventing displacement ofsaid top cap and support plate relative to said back plate.

4. A door handle comprising a spindle having a bent end portion, a crossbar having an aperture to receive said spindle and recessed to locatesaid end portion thereon, said bar and end portion being rigidly securedtogether, a support plate abutting said cross bar at the edges of theplate, and a top cap and back plate enclosing said cross bar and supportplate.

5. A door handle comprising a spindle having a bent end portion, a crossbar having an aperture to receive said spindle, said bar and end portionbeing rigidly secured together, a support plate abutting said cross barat the edges of the plate, and a top cap and back plate enclosing saidcross bar and support plate.

6. A door handle comprising a spindle, a cross bar having an aperture toreceive said spindle, said bar and spindle being rigidly securedtogether, a support plate abutting said cross bar at the edges of theplate, said plate being notched inwardly of said edges, and a top capand back plate enclosing said cross bar and support plate, said notchespreventing displacement of said top cap and support plate relative tosaid back plate.

7. A door handle comprising a spindle, a cross bar, said bar and spindlebeing rigidly secured together, a support plate abutting said cross barat the edges of the plate, said plate being notched inwardly of saidedges, and a top cap and back plate enclosing said cross bar and supportplate, said notches preventing displacement of said top cap and supportplate relative to said back plate.

8. In a door handle, a spindle, a cross bar, a support plate abuttingsaid bar at the edges of said plate and provided with notches at saidedges for preventing displacement of said plate relative to said bar inassembled condition, and a top cap and back plate enclosing said crossbar and support plate.

9. In a door handle, a spindle having an end portion thereof bentthrough and a cross bar provided with an aperture to receive saidspindle, said cross bar being recessed adjacent said aperture whereby tolocate said bent end portion, said cross bar and bent end portion beingrigidly secured together.

10. In a door handle, a spindle having an end portion thereof bentthrough 90, and a cross bar provided with an aperture to receive saidspindle, said cross bar and bent end portion being rigidly securedtogether.

GILBERT J. HAAN, JR.

